Device for retarding and stopping the motion of ships.



PATENTED JAN. '7. 1908- B BHEBTB-SKEET 1.

E. P. VILLETTB.

DEVICE FOR RBTARDING AND STOPPING THE MOTION 0F SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 37. 1903;

PATENTBD JAN. 7, '1908.

E. P. A. VILLETTE. DEVICE FOR RBTARDING AND STOPPING THE MOTION 0F SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27. 1903.

2 SBEETQ-SHBET 2.

PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE PAUL ALFRED VILLETTE, OF LII-LE, FRANCE.

DEVICE FOR RETARDING AND STOPPING THE MOTION OF SHIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7, 1908.

Application filed June 27, 1903. Serial No. 163.386-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE P. A. VIL- LETTE, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Lille, in France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Retarding and Stopping the Motion of Ships, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a device to be secured to the sides of ships and boats for either suddenly or gently stopping the same.

The collisions of shi s, so frequent and so disastrous, are cause chiefly by the impossibility of suddenly stopping the ships while at full speed. danger, either caused by a coming ship, or by a rock or an iceberg, it is generally too late to avoid it; Hitherto a distance of 450 yards, at least, is necessary'for stopping a the height of the same (from the keel to the water line) I provide spaces to admit iron plates which partake of the form of paddles, though such form may be varied. The plates are movable and rotatable on hinges secured to the side of the ship. Further, the plates are provided with a maintaining rod located in the center of the plates for instance, and connected to the driving device located in the ship.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a side elevation of a boat provided with my plates. Fig. 2 is a plan view showin the plates projected at right angles to the si es of the ship. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the side of a ship showing the.

operating means for the pivoted plates.

P indicate the plates w 'ch at one end, as at p, have a pivotal connection with the sides of the ship. WVhen these plates are extended at right angles to the sides of the ship as shown in full lines in Fig;- 2 and in dotted lines'in Fig. 3, they serve to stop the forward motion of the vesseland when they are closed against the sides of the ship they are adapted to lie within grooves or recesses, as provided in the sides so that said-plates wi be flush with the said sides. The plates are arranged in sets, the plates of one set alternating or breaking joint with those of the adjoining sets.

If the ship must be-stopped instantaneously. or nearly so, the operation is as follows: The pilot orders the operation of the plates and When the pilot sees the by means of a very simple device of levers and gears located in the ship, the maintaining rods of the plates, which normally rest against the sides of the ship, are pushed through the openings which I provide in the sides of the ship. The plates turn on their hinges and they open as indicated in Fig. 2. The prow of the ship at full speed, cuts the water rapidly and pushes it to the sides. The Water strikes first the plates of the first set P and reduces the velocity of the ship. Furthermore the water passes between said plates and strikes the plates of the second set P, thus further reducing the velocity; then the water strikes the plates of the third and fourth sets and so on. It will be easily understood, that an obstacle, 'such as said plates, which are opposed simultaneously to the water, will break immediately the propulsion, and that the ship will stop very quickly. The pilot will facilitate the stopping by stopping the rotation of the propellers or by propelling backwards.

An essential point of the efiica'cy of my device is the alternative position of the plates (see Fig. 1) so that the water which passes between the front plates strikes immediately the next plates and breaks entirely the im pulsion of the ship. However, the position of the plates may be Varied. The mechanism for the operation is very simple and can also be varied as desired.

T indicate rods each of which at one end is jointed to a plate P, and at the other end carries a roller G. Upon the stud or pivot of the roller is pivotally mounted one end of a lever D In the center of the ship an ordinary driving device is driven either by steam or any other power, by means of transmission de vices, or with the hand, and from said center, rods D drive the arms of levers D which move the rods T, thusgnaintaining strongly the immersion of' the plates. \Vhen the plates P are closed the rods T will lie within and between the plates 0. and b forming the sides of the vessel but when the rods are operated to effect theextension of the plates said rods'will extend through openings d formed in the outer wall a of the sides, while similar openings (2 are formed in the inner wall b to permit of the movements of the lovers D.

0 indicate plates which are placed over the openings d, but not so as to interfere with the movements of the rods T and lovers 1). The rods '1 may be operated to eficct the opening outwards of the plates P by manipulation of the levers D". For instance by pulling upon the levers I) as indicated by the arrow 1 in Fig. 3, the plates T will be pushed outwardly and into the position seen in dotted lines. Cr the rods T may be operated by having the levers D occupy the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and thenpushing upon said levers to efiect the operation of the rods '1 and plates P. If this latter mode of operation of the levers D is to be employed, then the openings (1 in the inner wall b of the ship would have to be made somewhat longer to permit said levers to occupy the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

If the speed is to be reduced, either for avoiding an obstacle or for effecting an evolution, the pilot will operate at will those series of plates which may be suitable for the purpose.

Iclaim:

1. The combination with a ship, of plates pivotally connected at one end to the sides of the ship, and normally lying close against the sides of the ship and adapted to swing in horizontal planes and to occupy positions at an angle to the said sides, saidplates being arranged in sets or series, the plates in each set being spaced apart and the plates of the various sets alternating with or being in staggered relation relativel to each other whereby the water passing between the plates of one set will strike against the plates of the succeeding set, and means for operating the sets of lates.

52. T e combination with a ship, of plates pivotall connected at one end to the sides of the s 'p, and normally lying close against the sides of the ship and adapted to swing in horizontal planes and to occupy positions at an angle to the said sides, said plates being arranged in sets or series, the plates in each set being spaced apart and the plates of'the various sets alternating with orbeing in staggered relation relatively to each other whereby the water passing between the plates of one set will strike against the plates of the succeeding set, a rod T connected at one end with each plate at a point intermediate the ends of the plate and operating means for operating the sets of plates comprising levers, each one of which is connected with one of the said rods T.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of June, 1903.

EUGENE PAUL ALFRED VILLETTE.

Witnesses:

VICTOR MOETREAX, M. LANDRIEUX. 

